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July 30, 1963
P. w. KING
3,099,127
REPEAT ALARM DEVICE
I
Filed Feb. 8, 1961
2 Sheets-Sheet 1
FIG.
2
1
FIG.
(D
to
it.
w
"'
INVENTOR
PHILLIP W. KING
—
ATTORNE $
July 30, 1963
P. w. KING
3,099,127
REPEAT ALARM DEVICE
Filed Feb. 8, 1961
2 Sheets-Sheet 2
INVENTOR
PHILLIP W. KING
MATTORNEYS
024%
United States Patent 0 ”
l
Patented July 30, i963
2
FIG. 1 shows a side view of an alarm clock with por
shearer
Phillip W. King, Meriden, Conn, assignor to The Sessions
REPEAT ALARM DEVECE
tClock Qempany, Forestville, Conn, a corporation of
Connecticut
rum Feb. 8, 1961,§e2t'.N0- smszs
5 Ciaims. (Cl. fig-16)
tions of the clock casing removed, and incorporating the
novel repeat alarm device of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1
showing several of the parts of the repeat alarm device
in the alarm on position;
PEG. 3 is ‘a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the alarm
off position; and
FIG. 4 is a view taken along the ‘lines 4-4 of FIG. 1,
This invention relates generally to ‘alarm clocks and
more particularly to a repeat alarm device of improved 10 showing several of the parts of the device in the alarm
construction.
off position.
Referring now to the drawing and speci?cally to FIG.
Heretorfore, it has been proposed to provide a means
1, reference numeral flit designates an ‘alarm clock having
in cooperation with a clock alarm permitting a user to
a casing 11, and intermediate and forward mounting plates
interrupt or shutoff the alarm for a predetermined short
l2, 13. A motor 14 is mounted to plate 12 and is adapted
interval. A known prior device having this function is
to drive associated clock gearing 1.6. The hands of the
illustrated and described in the US. patent to Phaneuf,
which issued on January 12, 1960 as Patent No. 2,920,
clock ‘(not shown) ‘are mounted upon the ends of coaxial
438. In a device of the type, a vibratory alarm element
shafts 17, 1S, ‘and 19 which extend for a distance forward
is damped or shut-oif ‘for a predetermined short interval
of the plate 13.
The clock ll} includes a resiliently mounted vibratory
by a mechanism which cooperates with the clock gearing.
t’lertain problems are seen however in connection with
the ei'iiciency, construction, and dependability of Koper
ation of the foregoing repeat alarm system which are
plate 22, which carries and is rigidly attached to a ham
An
extension 26 of the member ‘24 is ‘adapted to be excited
mer-like impact member 24 as shown in FIG. 4.
by the alternating current and magnetic ?ux of the motor
In its broadest form, the invention provides a repeat 25 14, causing the plate 22 and the member 24 to vibrate
alarm device for a clock including a vibratory element
unless restrained. The member 24 is adapted to succes
sively impact against a rigid ?nger 27 thus causing an
and a damping arm mounted for movement into and out
alarm sound. The ?nger 27 protrudes through an open
of contact with the element for assuming respectively,
ing 28 in plate 22 and through a rectangular opening 29
alarm-off and alarm-0n positions. The damping arm car
ries an interval lever which is moved into engagement with 30 in the mounting plate 12. The ?nger~27 is an extension
a portion of the clock gearing when the damping arm is
of a resilient bifurcated member 3% held by two oppo
sitely disposed slotted tangs 31 projecting from the plate
moved into the alarm-off position. The latter movement
will be accomplished, for example, by depressing a button
12.
Two alarm gears ‘32, ‘38 are coaxially mounted upon a
on the clock casing. Light spring means are provided
shaft 34. The forward gear ‘312 is rotated by the pinion
for snapping the interval lever into a position where it
may engage the clock gearing and for maintaining the
35 of the clock gearing 16, and the rear gear 33 meshes
with pinion 3d of the clock gearing. The gear 33 may be
interval lever against the clock gearing as it drives the
lever out of engagement therewith. Separate heavy spring
rotated manually relative to gear 32. by the knob 37,
means operative against the damping arm will snap the
which will also rotate pinion 36 for turning an alarm
arm out of contact with the vibratory element when the
pointer on the face of the clock dial (not shown). The
gear 33 is spring-biased toward the gear 32 by the bi
interval lever has been driven out of engagement with
the clock gearing. The arrangement is such that the load
furcated member 30 by contacting a frusto-conical base
ing of the heavy spring means against the damping arm
portion 58 thereof. Gear 33 has a bevelled projection
3% mounted to its rearwardly disposed surface which is
is never exerted counter to the direction of rotation of the
clock gearing but in eifect tends to neutralize any loading
adapted, after predetermined relative rotation of the gears
of the light spring thereagainst. Thus the parts are re
32, 33 to drop into the mating slot 39’ in the gear 32.
turned positively and decisively to the alarm off position
When this occurs, the member 30 will force the gears 3-2,
without subjecting the clock timing mechanism to appreci
33 into nesting contact, which action causes the member
‘3% to rock forward about its connection with the tangs
able additional ‘forces due to the imposition of the repeat
31. This causes the ?nger 27 to be moved out of contact
alarm mechanism.
with the impact member 24, permitting the alarm to
As a further more speci?c aspect of the invention, the
sound. The alarm may be shut oif manually, by push
interval lever is constructed with an L-shaped sector de
ing the knob 40 and its associated shaft 41, slidably
?ning gear teeth which are selectively brought into engage
mounted to the shaft 34, thereby bringing a forward por
ment with the clock gearing and subsequently positively
tion 41', of the shaft against the plate 22 to inhibit vi
withdrawn from contact therewith when the interval lever
55
bration. Spring ?ngers 42a are provided for holding the
has been driven out of engagement. The movement of
the interval lever during the sequence is materially assisted
shaft 4d in the latter position.
The foregoing description does not relate speci?cally
by the light spring means interconnected with the interval
greatly obviated by the present invention.
lever and the damping arm in an over~center linkage. The
to the present invention but has been described as a con
action of ‘re light spring means in this respect is sub~
ventional alarm mechanism which is adapted to cooperate
for returning the damping arm to its alarm on position.
Moreover, the structural relationship of the interval lever,
Accordingly, the novel repeat time device includes a
vibratory damping arm 42. which is pivotally mounted at
the clock gearing and the heavy spring means is such that
pressure acting upon the interval lever from the heavy
‘,3 to the plate 12 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The damp
ing arm 42 carries a follower 44‘ which will normally ride
stantialiy independent of the heavy spring means utilized 60 with the repeat time device of the present invention.
spring means tends to oifset or neutralize forces acting 65 against a generally semi-circular peripheral cut-out 46’
de?ned by an actuating lever 46. The lever 45 is piv
upon the clock gearing ‘for driving the interval gear out
lotally mounted to the plate 12 at 47 and has a portion
of engagement therewith.
48 which contacts the base or" a button 4-9‘ mounted for
These and other aspects of the invention will become
slidable movement through an upper part of the clock
apparent upon a detailed examination of the following
description or" a particular embodiment and of the accom 70 casing. The lever 46 is resiliently biased against down
ward movement of the button '49 by a spring 5d, the pres
panying drawing in which:
3,099,127
sure of spring 50 acting to hold the button in its projected
position, unless depressed‘. Thus, when the button 49 is
pressed downwardly, the lever 4-6 will rotate an end 42’
of the damping arm 42 into contact with the impact mem
The foregoing description relates to a particular em
bodiment only and is therefore merely representative. In
order more fully to appreciate the spirit and scope of the
present invention, reference should be made to the ap
ber 24- carried by the vibratory plate 22. This effective
ly prevents the plate 22 and impact member 24 from vi
brating. A relatively heavy leaf spring 45 is attached to
pended claims.
the plate 12 and slides under a part of the arm 42, op
erating to urge the contact end 42’ out of engagement
clock supporting structure, an alarm system having alarm
3, the pivot 53 be positioned to the right of the spring 54.
portion and a lower portion, said lower portion includes
The interval lever 52 has an L-shaped sector 56 which
a ?rst point of pivotal connection to said interval lever,
a light overcentering toggle spring connects a second point
I claim:
1. In a repeating alarm clock mechanism including a
off and alarm-on conditions, a damping arm having a por
with impact member 24.
10 tion movable into and out of an alarm-off position and
The damping arm 42, opposite its pivot 43, forms two
an alarm-on position, clock gear means continually ro
extensions 51, 51’. An interval lever 52 is pivotally
tated as a function of time by said clock, an interval
mounted at 53 to extension 51. A spring 54 exerting a
lever carried by said damping arm and movable relative
very light tension force interconnects the interval lever
thereto, said interval lever adapted to be engaged with
and extension 51’. The connection of the spring 54 to 15 said clock gear means when said damping arm is moved
the interval lever and extension 51’ is by an over-center
into the alarm-off position, and a heavy spring means op
arrangement relative to the pivot attachment 53 of the
erative against said damping arm to urge said damping
interval lever. Accordingly, the pivot will be situated to
arm into the alarm-on position when said interval lever
the left of the spring 54- When the parts are in the position
has become disengaged from said gear means, the im
of FIG. 2 and when the parts are in the position of FIG.
provement wherein said damping arm includes an upper
de?nes gear teeth 57. The lever 52 may be brought into
engagement with a clock driven pinion 58 by depressing
the button 49. This action rotates the damping arm into
contact with the impact lever 24- and at the same time
raises the extension 511 thereof and the interval lever 52.
A portion 52’ of the latter is brought into sliding contact
with a mounting post 60 to move the pivot 53 to the right
of the line of spring 54'. This causes the over-center con 30
on said upper portion and a third point on said interval
lever, and said ?rst point and said second point de?ne a
line of reference, whereby upon displacement of said third
point in a ?rst direction through said line of reference, said
interval lever is urged by said toggle spring in the direction
of said displacement into engagement with said clock
gear means and upon displacement of said third point in
nection of the spring 54 with extension 51 and the in
a second direction through said line of reference said
terval lever 52 to swing the lever into a position where
interval lever is urged by said toggle spring in the direc
it may drop into engagement with the pinion 58 (see
tion of said displacement out of engagement with said
FIG. 3). The interval lever is prevented from swinging
clock gear means.
too far toward the pinion 58 by a stop projection 59‘ de 35
2. A repeating arm clock mechanism according to claim
pending from the interval lever. In this position, the end
1 in which said interval lever is provided with gear teeth
of the damping arm 42 opposite its pivot point 51, will
to cooperate with said clock gear ‘means, whereby said in
be held against the impact member 24 to prevent the
terval lever is adapted to be positively driven by said clock
gear means in the alarm-off position.
latter from sounding an alarm. Thereafter, the pinion
53 will, after a short interval of perhaps 5 to 7 minutes, 40
3. An alarm clock mechanism according to claim 2
drive the lever 52 out of engagement with the pinion.
which includes a guiding surface and a stopping surface
When the interval lever has become disengaged it will be
disposed proximately of said interval lever, said guiding
snapped completely out of contact therewith by the spring
surface is adapted upon pivotal movement of said damping
54 which has assumed the over-center position of FIG. 2.
arm into said alarm-off position to engage slidingly said
Simultaneously, the spring 45 will snap the damping arm
interval lever to guide the movement thereof, whereby
said third point is caused to be displaced from said line
42 out of contact with the impact member 24, permitting
the alarm to operate.
of action in the direction of said pinion, and said stopping
It will be noted that the geometric arrangement of the
surface engages said upper portion to limit the pivotal
movement of said damping arm when said damping arm
parts in their position of FIG. 3 is such that a line of
forces acting through the interval lever upon the pinion 50 is moved into the alarm-oft position.
4. A repeating alarm clock mechanism according to
58 by the imposition of the relatively heavy spring 45 is
claim 3 which includes a clock casing, a button project
in the direction of rotation of the pinion. That is to say,
ing ‘from said casing and slidably mounted therein, an
the gear teeth 57 of the interval lever have their points
actuating lever rotatably mounted to said clock support
of contact with teeth of the pinion in the upper quadrant
ing structure and having a portion engaging said button,
thereof nearest the interval lever. The pressure thus
a spring urging said portion of said actuating lever against
exerted by the heavy spring is not counter the rotation
said button thereby urging said button into a projected
of the pinion, but operates to neutralize or cancel out the
alarm-on position, said actuating lever de?ning cam
pressure from the light spring 54 maintaining the interval
means, and said damping arm carrying a cam follower
lever toward the pinion 58. Of course, the latter pressure
cooperative with said cam means for moving said damp
is ‘extremely slight in any event, and decreases as the lever
ing arm into the alarm-off position when said button is
52 approaches its over-center position respective of spring
depressed, said heavy spring means comprising a leaf
54. The effective pressure of the heavy spring 45 against
spring having a free end slidably engaging said damping
the pinion is also directed almost ‘diametrically so‘ that
arm and urging said damping arm into the alarm~on po
this force will not tend materially to induce greater rota
tion of the pinion, but rather, as mentioned, merely ne - 65 sition, the other end of said leaf spring being secured to
said clock supporting structure.
tralize the effect of the light spring 54.
5. In a repeating alarm clock mechanism including a
It will be appreciated therefore that the disclosed novel
clock supporting structure, an alarm system having alarm
repeat alarm device employs separate light and heavy
spring means which more e?iciently perform their sepa
off and alarm-on conditions, a damping arm having a
portion movable into and out of an alarm-off position
rate functions than would be possible where, for example, 70 and an alarm-on position, clock gear means continually
a single spring were utilized. In addition, the loading
rotated as a function of time by said clock, an interval
effects of either the light or heavy springs are effectively
lever carried by said damping arm and movable relative
cancelled out in relation to the clock gearing when the
thereto, said interval lever adapted to be engaged with
repeat alarm mechanism is in engagement therewith.
said clock gear means when said damping arm is moved
enema?
5
into the alarm-off position, and a heavy spring means op
erable against said ‘damping arm to urge said damping
anrn into the alarm-on position when said interval iever
has become disengaged from said gear means, the ini
provernent wherein said interval lever is movable in ?rst
and second directions between alarm-o?‘: and alarm-on
positions, said alarm system includes a selectively aetuabie
alarm-01f lever means, said damping arm is moved into
its alarm-oil? position by said alarm-off lever and is main
tained in its alarm-oil‘ position during the engagement of
said interval lever With said cioel; gear means, and a light
overeentering toggle spring means acts between said in
terval lever and said damping arm to hold said interval
lever alternately in said enga ed and disengaged position.
Referenees Cited in the ?le of this patent
UNITED STATES PATENTS
2,996,874
Char-tier et al. ________ __ Aug. 22, 1961